River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-08


out the pain. had seen. daily grow
ing, great ugly black rings under my
eyes. ANY one could see them. Thii
stranger saw them. But the pain at my
heart now far exceeded in the intensit,
that of the aching eyes.
'Now, miss" he continued in tn,
gentlest tone, s'if you will please direc
it for me. I'll be so much Obliged.
l had not turned from the window
nor Enclosed my eyes, and with al
sights shut out from my senses my
hearing seemed painfully acute. That
voice carried me back to scenes in which
1 had heard just such tones-low
gentle and tender. 1t was-Tm sure
il was the twin of that voice that once,
in the long ago, awakened in my heart
its first and best love.
| / had heard his last request. but il
had so mingled with the PARKWAY voice
was listening to in my dreamy
retrospection that l paid no heed to it.
A slight movement on his part
aroused me, and 1 saw him looking
compassionately at me and in a re-
spectful way he held out the letter.
folded it, and enclosed il in an en-
velope, and took up my pen once more.
please direct it TO Mrs. Jane Stan
ley. Drayton, New Hampshire" he
said.
The hand that held the pen rose
suddenly in the air, like the arm of
one first striker with the palsy, and the
other followed it uncontrollably. One
gasp for breath, a choaking sensa-
ton. and / fell backward; but not far.
A strong arm held me up. A con-
venient glass of water revived me
sufficiently for me to hear the words
Poor child She's worn out,
"Are you John Stanley?" Whispered,
as he raised me to a sitting posture.
"Why, of course l am John Stanley"
he said regarding me with surprise.
My face, which moment ago had
felt cold and bloodless. was now burn
ing as with a fever. and yet shook as
with the violence of an ague, as | said
in almost inaudible tones:
Il am Annie Sinclair"
Something between a groan and a
miners shout of JOY at the discovery of
a rich lead reached MY ear. as was
unceremoniOusly gathered tightly
into the shaggy, grizzly-bearskin coat
of this terrible stranger. What If it
were a mistake, after all? There might
be other John Stanleys. o, yes. and
there might be other Annie Sinclairs,
who worked ten hours a day on type
writers. And might not be myself,
and John might not
MY own little girl! TO think I've
got you to write to mother and inquire
about your own self!
| think he must have forgotten all
about how tired and worn out | was
from the fierce way in which he EN-
braced me again and again, only paus-
ing long enough to look lovingly into
my aching eyes. could easily imagine
l was being Rugged by Rocky Noun
tain grizzly as lay helpless in the fur
coat and felt the arm close tightly
about me.
But made feeble struggle at last to
extricate myself. What right had John
Stanley to kiss me i'm this free and pas
siOnate manner? He had not asked me to
forgive him for the past. John had
been a miner, and suppose he thought
as he had once staked out his claim on
me that that settled it forever. o! these
men are SO cool and presumptuous. He
only laughed at my weak efforts to free
myself from his embrace and kissed me
again.
John was the first to discover the pres
ence of a third party in the room. and
following his gaze | saw with alarm
that Mr., Brunsley, my employer, had
come in, and was looking on with a
countenance which was n study.
Amusement and displeasure seemed
hopelessly mixed.
''It's all right, Mr." John explain
ed.
This is my little girl. / left her be-
hind ten years ago. My claim is good
yet"
IL am sorry to lose so good an EN-
plOyee," Mr.. Brunsley remarked, smil-
ingly; "but l must congratulate you.
sir, on your good fortune in getting
her"
Il want to pay you for writing the
letter for me- said John turning again
to me.
Il am already paid" / replied shyly.
From that evening turned my back
on the hateful little typewriter and
have never touched key since.
Instead of looking out upon the great
Brooklyn bridge, with its ceaseless piano.
rama of cars, wagons, and human
beings, now look out from cottage
situated about midway between Mrs.
Stanley's and my own mothers, upon
the loved hills and charming landscapes
where as a girl was happy and where
as a grown woman | knew my first
sorrow, but where | now know the
world as have never, never known it
before-bright. sunny. musical, cloud
less and serene.
| write all of Johns letters nOw-but
not with a typewriter; and he always
pays me for my labor-in the same
currency, which is legal tender III our
house, as that he proffered me for the
first letter penned for him. And when
| tell my newer friends that / was once
Rugged by grizzly bear. and they
manifest incredulity. bring out Johns
old Leadville coat, and they laugh.
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